Chelmsford Fairtrade Town Campaign

Press Release: 14 March 2009
 
Chelmsford Fairtrade Action Group
Acknowledge Successful Fairtrade Fortnight
                                                                                                             
25 Fairtrade events were successfully held in Chelmsford over the Fairtrade Fortnight, 23 February – 8 March.
 
Malcolm Wallace, on behalf of Chelmsford Fairtrade said:  “I would like to thank everyone involved for the part they played during Fairtrade Fortnight, particularly those who helped to organise the events that took place in the town. Town events amounted to at least 25 and engaged bodies as diverse as retailers, trade unions, employers, colleges, schools, university and faiths. This has to be good news for Chelmsford and the developing world.”
 
Over 370,000 participated nationally in the world's biggest banana-eating event and Chelmsford played its part in this too.  Writtle College and Anglia Ruskin University were just two institutions in Chelmsford who registered with the ‘Go-Bananas’ 24 hour banana eating marathon on the 6 and 7 March, reporting back directly to Fairtrade about total numbers of bananas consumed.
 
Other events that took place over the fortnight included an exhibition in Chelmsford Library’s Public Square, the Chelmsford Fairtrade Action Group also held a Traidcraft exhibition in Chelmsford High Street, samples of Starbucks Fairtrade coffee were also available on this day.  The Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society hosted an evening with a guest speaker from the Fairtrade Foundation and the King Edward Grammar School hosted a fashion show with student T Shirt designs on display.  
 
Finally, Rachel Hewings Chairman of the Chelmsford Fairtrade Action Group, organised a Fairtrade fashion show – ‘Get Cotton on the Catwalk.  Held on the evening of Saturday 14 March at Christ Church, New London Road.  People Tree, fair trade fashion pioneer, brought models and clothes for the show.  Other Fairtrade organisations such as Sky Lotus and Traidcraft will also be exhibiting at the event. 
 
The Chelmsford Fairtrade Steering Committee will be meeting this week to plan further promotional activities and to assist in co-ordinating events to make Essex a Fairtrade County.
  
Notes to Editors
The Fairtrade Foundation and Cadbury have recently announced that Cadbury Dairy Milk, the nation's top chocolate bar, will be going Fairtrade this summer (09), tripling the sales of cocoa under Fairtrade terms for cocoa farmers in Ghana. To find out more visit the Fairtrade website.
 
For further information, contact:
Chelmsford Fairtrade Action Group
 
Press Officer
Emily Kent
Email: emilydkent@aol.com

Press Release

Get Cotton on the Catwalk

 4 March 2009

 Following the Fairtrade Fortnight, Rachel Hewings - Chair of the Chelmsford Fairtrade Action Group, will be hosting the ‘Get Cotton on the Catwalk’ Fair Trade Clothes Show. 

The clothes show will be held at Christ Church on New London Road, Chelmsford on Saturday 14 March 6.45 – 9.30pm.  Entry will be £1.

People Tree, fair trade fashion pioneer, will be bringing models and clothes for the Fashion Show.  People Tree create their own garments and accessories by forming sustainable partnerships with Fair Trade and organic producers in developing countries.

Other Fairtrade organisations such as Sky Lotus and Traidcraft will also be exhibiting at the show.  Sky Lotus will be bringing items such as; Hand Painted Christmas Decorations, Exotic Chakra Greetings Cards and Organic Walnut Wood Products.  While Traidcraft will be hosting a food stall. 

Preceding the Fashion Show an introduction from the Fairtrade Chelmsford Action Group will open the event. All Fashion Show attendees will find out further details about how Fairtrade producers benefit from a sustainable relationship with organisations in the UK.


Chelmsford Fairtrade Action Group Announce Town Exhibition -  Friday 27 February

Further plans have been revealed by Chelmsford Fairtrade Action Group Town Campaign for the forthcoming Fairtrade Fortnight (23 February to 8 March 2009).  Alongside the Exhibition in Chelmsford Library’s Public Square from 23-28 February, the Chelmsford Fairtrade Town Campaign group will be hosting a Traidcraft exhibition in Chelmsford High Street on the 27 February from 9am to 5pm. Samples of Starbucks Fairtrade coffee will be available to taste. Starbucks staff will be grinding the fresh coffee in store and samples will be available to drink or to take granules away in a bag.  

Many other public activities will be taking place during Fairtrade Fortnight: Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society will be hosting an evening with a guest speaker from the Fairtrade Foundation and King Edward Grammar School have announced a fashion show, on 5 March, in support of the fortnight, showing T Shirt designs created by  students.  Writtle College and Anglia Ruskin University are also involved in promoting Fairtrade awareness and have entered the international banana eating marathon on the 6 March. 

Following the Fairtrade Fortnight, Rachel Hewings - Chair of the Chelmsford Fairtrade Action Group, will be running the ‘Get Cotton on the Catwalk’ Fair Trade Clothes Show.  The clothes show will be held at Christ Church on New London Road, Chelmsford on Saturday 14 March at 7pm.  Entry will be £1.  Organisations such as People Tree, Pants to Poverty and Traidcraft will be exhibiting their clothes at the show.  There will be Fairtrade, organic Pants, Fairtrade clothes, gifts, jewellery and accessories for sale.  Plus there will be an introduction for all attendees on how the Fairtrade producers will benefit.

Photographers for press are welcome throughout Fairtrade events; please contact Malcolm Wallace (details below) to schedule a time.